82nd Annual Silver Sailfish Derby 2 West Palm Beach Fishing Club Website: www.westpalmbeachfishingclub.org Find us on Facebook West Palm Beach Fishing Club 201 5th Street (corner of 5th St. & N. Flagler Drive) West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Telephone: (561) 832-6780 Fax: (561) 832-2137 Board of Directors: Pete Schulz, Chairman Tricia Borsch Chester Brewer Barry Brimacomb Robert Broadway Donn Colee C.N. “Butch” Farrell Chuck Gerlach John Jolley Daniel Kleiser Chris Militello Robert Oglesby Suzanne Ross Nelson Schad John Taylor William Watson David Webb Robert L. Weigt Serena Wilson Staff: President Thomas L. Twyford, Jr. Operations Manager Joella S. Callaway Communications Coordinator Thomas ‘Buzz’ Bzura Copyright 2018 West Palm Beach Fishing Club. All rights reserved. The Silver Sailfish Derby was established by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club (WPBFC) in January 1935 to promote the region and aid its struggling charter boat fleet during the Great Depression era. The fact that it has endured the past 82 years speaks volumes. While structured quite differently today, the event remains the world’s oldest sailfish tournament. The only three years the Derby didn’t run was 1943 to 1945, during the Second World War. At one time, famous American author and avid big game angler, Ernest Hemingway was a Derby trophy sponsor. While many different sports and entertainment celebrities have par- ticipated in the prestigious event through the years, it is the Derby’s longstanding support of billfish conservation efforts that has been its hallmark. The Derby is credited with advancing the ‘catch and release’ ethic that has been enthusiastically embraced by sportsmen around the globe. Perhaps the most notable conservation contribution attributable to the Derby is the development of the red release pennant. The West Palm Beach Fishing Club began flying the pennants in the late 1930’s. Today, the little red pennant is recognized around the world as a way to signify a sailfish release. The Derby was also among the first tournaments to incorporate gamefish tagging for scientific purposes into a competitive format and encouraged the use of circle hooks (a hook that reduces post-release mortality) long before it was mandated by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Derby has an outstanding reputation and a loyal following among those who enjoy pursuingsailfish,includingsomeofthemostaccomplishedcaptains,crewsandanglersthesport has ever seen. It is a fun and very competitive event with rules designed to ‘level the playing field’ for boats of all sizes. While there are scores of sailfish tournaments each season off of southeastFlorida,fewpossesstherichtraditionsanduniquecharacterof theSilverSailfishDerby! The West Palm Beach Fishing Club gratefully acknowledges all those who have fished, volunteered, sponsored and supported the Silver Sailfish Derby throughout our 82 years. - The Tournament Committee Celebrating 82 years of History... Follow the Derby on Facebook, Post your pictures on Instagram, & view live scoring throughout the two day tournament! www.facebook.com/SilverSailfishDerby #SilverSailfishDerby live scoring: www.westpalmbeachfishingclub.org/silver-sailfish-derby-standings/ Stay up to date on tournament happenings by ‘liking’ the Silver Sailfish Derby. Boat entry updates, notable catches, fishing conditions, tournament standings, pictures and award winners will be posted on our facebook page throughout the event. To catch all the action go to: Magazine photo credits: Leonard Bryant Photography & WPBFC archives. Big Game historian and noted author Mike Rivkin describes the West Palm Beach Fishing Club (WPBFC) this way, “There are fishing clubs, and then there are fishing clubs. More and more, these institutions have evolved into virtual form as anglers find it easier to troll on-line for the latest information or reports. However, this wasn’t always so. At one time, fishing clubs dotted the eastern seaboard from Nova Scotia to Key West. Some were little more than shacks while others had expansive clubhouses. Each was supported by a community of anglers united in their enthusiasm for the sport and eager to share it with others. Alas, most are gone now, unfortunate victims of the changing times. However, a handful remain and a few continue to stand out as shining examples of their kind. Among the very best was and remains the West Palm Beach Fishing Club”. Membership in the Fishing Club and participation in club tournaments like the Silver Sailfish Derby ultimately support the conservation and education initiatives conducted by the club and its charitable affiliate, the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation (PBCFF). Kid’s Fishing Days for less fortunate youth, Rods & Reels for Kids, annual marine biology scholarships, artificial reef building, estuarine habitat enhancement and historic preservation are just some of the programs that are supported by your WPBFC membership and Silver Sailfish Derby participation. If you are not already a WPBFC member we encourage you to join the club. To learn more about the WPBFC and PBCFF, visit www.westpalmbeachfishingclub.org. Membership is available on line, or better yet stop by the clubhouse and see first hand what makes the WPBFC so special. Join the Club, Support our Foundation West Palm Beach Fishing Club